Energy policy

The United States has tremendous coal, natural gas and oil
resources. For about a century, we have developed a vibrant
economy - the largest in the world - around these sources of energy.
The R&D, extraction, use and distribution of these resources is
mature. The relatively low costs of these fuels has made them the
choice of most energy-consuming industries.
These fossil fuels are seen as a major source of greenhouse gases,
and new energy policies seek to minimize their use. The problem is
that so-called "alternative sources of energy" are more expensive,
and the technologies associated with them are immature.
The greenhouse gas which most affects the average global
temperature - if that can actually be measured - is water vapor.
The Sun warms water and water vapor is released. The Earth once
had a vapor canopy which resulted in global tropical conditions.
Scientists have found tropical plants under the ice in Antarctica.
Kyoto and other treaties and the proposed "cap and trade"
legislation restrict businesses in the "developed nations" while
placing no restrictions on "undeveloped nations" such as Brazil,
Russia, India and China (BRIC). Bill Clinton signed the Kyoto
accords but didn't send the treaty to the Senate for ratification -
because it would hurt American business and send more jobs
overseas. The European nations who signed Kyoto have not grown
as they could have, and unemployment in them has been high.
The Pickens Plan is to use natural gas to run vehicles and
windpower in the mid-West to provide electrical energy. Truck
fleets are being converted to natgas by attrition, and Pickens is
lobbying for a modernization of the electrical grid in the United
States.
Solar, geothermal, hydro, nuclear and other sources of energy
should be used where they are cost-effective. The National
Laboratories should lead the research and development necessary
to make these sources of energy clean and cost-effective. In the
meantime, the proven sources of energy should be developed and
used to maintain our dominance as a world power.
Nuclear technology has significantly advanced in the 30+ years
since our last plant was built. France produces 75+% of its power
from nuclear, and China is buying U.S. and other technology to
implement this energy source. Unrealistic fears here have made
the United States less competitive.